How to Boot into Windows 10 Safe Mode [9 Different Methods]

Here you can explore useful methods to Boot into Windows 10 Safe Mode to understand the various safe mode options for starting windows 10 in safe mode.

The system faces numerous errors on a day-to-day basis, and there are times when users experience system crashing or a loop of application crashing, which is really frustrating at times.

Such a situation can force the system to restart all over again in a loop, and the worst part is that you just can do nothing about it.

Therefore, in this article, we will discuss a Windows feature known as Windows 10 Safe Mode, which helps users to fix such errors.

Let us begin!

9 Methods to Boot into Windows 10 Safe Mode

The Windows 10 safe mode is a type of boot that is initiated with the very basic files needed to start the system. There are various times when the system crashes, and this is caused mainly due to the presence of some suspicious application that keeps on crashing.

You can use safe mode to start the system with basic files and then uninstall that suspicious application to fix the error.

Various Safe Mode Options

The safe boot Windows 10 comes in various additional modes as discussed below:

#1) Safe Mode with Networking: In this mode, the system starts with network usage and allows you to get access to other computers in the network.

#2) Windows 10 Safe Mode Command Prompt: In this mode, the system starts in the terminal interface, and operations are performed using commands. This mode is used mainly by IT experts.

#3) Enable Boot Logging: This mode helps in creating the log of all the files which are loaded in the memory when the system boots up.

#4) Last known good configuration (advanced): This option starts your system with the previous registry in the system and the last working state of driver configuration.

#5) Directory Services Restore Mode: This option helps users to access the Windows domain controller, which controls the Active Directory so that the directory service can be restored. Professionals mostly used this mode.

#6) Debugging Mode: This option boots your system into a mode that helps you locate system errors and is mostly used by IT professionals.

#7) Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure: This mode allows you to disable the Windows restart feature if any error occurs while the system is running and allows shut down only with the exception of when the system is stuck in the process of continuous crashing and restarting.

#8) Disable Driver Signature Enforcement: This mode allows you to install drivers that contain improper signatures.

#9) Start Windows Normally: This mode allows you to boot your Windows normally and load all basic drivers and startup programs in the memory.

Safe Mode Windows 10: Useful Methods

There are numerous ways to start Windows 10 in safe mode, and some of them are listed below:

Method 1: Using the F8 Key

The F8 key helps you to enter the boot menu and select boot mode, but sometimes the F8 key does not take you directly to the boot menu. Therefore, you need to make a few changes using the Command line, and then only you can use the F8 key to boot to safe mode in Windows 10.

Follow these steps to make the F8 Boot Menu Key available on Windows 10:

• Press the Windows button and then search for Command Prompt and then click on “Run as administrator” as displayed in the image below.

• A black window will open as in the image below. Type the command mentioned below and press Enter.

“bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy”

Restart the system and press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears on the screen, and it will prompt you with the Boot menu. Now, you need to select the boot menu to continue.

Method 2: Using System Configuration Tools

Follow these steps:

• Press the Windows button and search for System Configuration and click on “Open” as projected in the image below.

• Click on “Boot” and then click on “Safe Boot” under the heading “Boot options.” Now, click on “Minimal” then click on “Apply” and then on “OK“.

• A dialog box will appear. Click on “Restart“.

The system will now restart in safe mode.

Recommended Reading => 13 Different Ways to Fix Windows 10 Start Menu Not Working Error

Method 3: Using the Login Screen

In Windows, you can enter the boot menu using the login screen.

Follow the steps mentioned below for Windows 10 safe mode boot:

• Click on the ‘’Windows’’ button on your computer.
• On the login screen, you need to click on the power button and then hold the Shift key.
• Now, click on the “Restart” button to enter the boot menu.

Then follow the steps listed below in “Method 4: Using Recovery”(after step 3^rd).

Method 4: Using Recovery

You can boot Windows 10 into safe mode using Settings as Windows provides you with the feature to Enable boot mode. Follow the steps listed below:

• Open Settings, click on “Update & Security“.

• Click on “Recovery” and under the heading Advanced startup, click on “Restart now” as projected in the image below.

• The system will restart and a blue screen will be displayed. Click on “Troubleshoot” as projected in the image below.

[image source]

• Now click on “Advanced Options“.

• Further, click on “Startup Settings” as displayed below.

• Now, click on “Restart“.

[image source]

• Press “F4” from your keyboard and your system will restart in Safe Mode.

Method 5: Using the Shutdown Command in CMD

Windows offers its users the feature to boot into safe mode using simple commands in the command line.

Follow the steps listed below to boot into safe mode using the shutdown command in the command prompt:

• Click on the Windows button and then search for Command Prompt and click on Open as displayed in the image below.

• A window will open as displayed below. Type “shutdown.exe /r /o” and press the Enter key.

• Your system will restart and will load the troubleshooter, as shown in the image below. Click on “Troubleshoot“.

Further, follow the same steps mentioned in Method 4.

Method 6: By Pressing “Shift + Restart” On The Start Menu

You can also boot up your system in safe mode using a simple key combination by following the steps listed below:

• Press the shift key from your keyboard and then click on the Windows button. Click on the Power button > Restart.
• When the system will restart, a screen will be displayed, as shown in the image below.

Furthermore, follow the steps listed in Method 4.

Suggested Reading => Explore the Ways to Fix Windows 10 Critical Process Died Error

Method 7: By Booting From A Recovery Drive

Windows provides its users with a feature known as Recovery drive, which allows you to set up a recovery drive for the system in any case of emergency when your system fails. This feature can also be used to boot the system into safe mode.

Follow the steps listed below to boot the system into safe mode:

• Press the Windows button and search for Recovery Drive and click on Open.

• Add an external storage device to the system and make sure the device is empty, the process will begin, and the storage device will be converted to a recovery drive.

• Now boot using the recovery drive and a screen will appear asking for the keyboard layout. Select the keyboard layout and further click on Troubleshoot.

Furthermore, follow the steps listed in Method 4.

Method 8: Using Installation Media and the Command Prompt

You can use any storage device to convert it into bootable installation media.

Follow the steps listed below to use bootable installation media to boot into safe mode:

• Boot from a bootable installation media, and a screen will appear as projected below; select language, time format, and input method, and then click on “Next.”

[image source]

• When the next screen appears, then press Shift + F10 from your keyboard, and the Command Prompt window will appear on your screen.
• Type “bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy” and press Enter as displayed in the image below.

• A window will open containing various boot-up options. Click on “Repair your computer” and press Enter.

• A window will appear as displayed below. Click on “Troubleshoot“.

• From the list of options as displayed in the image below, click on “Command Prompt” and a black screen will be displayed.

• Type “bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal” and press Enter, then click on “Continue” to boot into safe mode.

Method 9: By Interrupting the Normal Boot Sequence

You can also boot up your PC in safe mode by interrupting the boot sequence.

Follow the steps listed below to boot into safe mode by interrupting the normal boot sequence:

• Restart Windows and as the booting process starts, power off the system and do it 3-4 times.
• You will be redirected to the automatic repair window, and when the Automatic repair window appears, click on “Advanced Options“.
• Further, click on “Troubleshoot” and follow the steps listed in Method 4.

FAQs About Windows 10 Safe Mode Boot

Q #1) Is F8 safe mode for Windows 10?

Answer: In earlier versions of Windows like Windows 7 and earlier, the F8 key was used to enter safe mode, whereas you can enable the F8 key for a safe mode in Windows 10 using a command in Command Prompt.

“bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy”

Q #2) How do I boot into Windows Recovery?

Answer: Follow the steps listed below to boot into Windows Recovery:

• Open Settings and click on Update & Security.
• Click on Recovery, and under the heading Advanced Startup, click on “Restart now.”

Q #3) How can I repair my Windows 10?

Answer: Follow the steps listed below to repair Windows 10:

• Open Settings and click on Update & Security.
• Click on Recovery, and under the heading Advanced Startup, click on “Restart now“.
• When the system restarts, select Troubleshoot.
• Then click on Advanced options.
• Click on Startup Repair.

Q #4) How do I restart my computer with Windows 10?

Answer: Follow the steps listed below:

• Click on the Windows icon, and then click on the power button.
• From the list of options, click on Restart.

Also Read =>> Fix Windows 10 Update Stuck issue

Conclusion

We hope this article will help you explore the ways of starting windows 10 in safe mode. There are various hidden modes in Windows that can not only help you fix various errors on your system but can even assist you with the entire troubleshooting process.

In this article, we have discussed one such mode, which is called Safe mode. We also learned various ways to boot windows 10 in safe mode.